Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-06
a TALK ARour nEArry.

"Aunty, do you think it is-wrong to
wish to be beautiful? ~
Something in the earnest look and tone
recalled another question asked by this
same niece of mine years ago when she
was Il wee girl of Z.
Then she had broken long silence with
"Aunty, do you think the heather will be
saved p
Evidently the years which made her al
most woman had not settled everp doubt
full subject to her satisfaction.
looked into the face, no longer childish
but childlike, and thought within myself
that there was small need for youth and
health and innocence to wish anything OF
the kind; but like wise woman | kept
such thoughts to myself, and answered
(atter the manner of my nation) with an
other question.
Why, May, do you wish to be beauti-
ful -
Ies, do,' frankly and with kind Of
defiant shrug of the shoulders; 'and do
you think it is wrong ~
Here was an opportunity, and thereupon
l made small talk" as an Indian would
say, something after this fashion:
there are SO many other things so much
better worth wishing for. | would grea,
deal rather be what is called "a fine-look
ing woman, than beautiful woman.
would rather have beauty of mind and ol
heart than of person.
As rule, which has few executions
beauty is conscious, and vain and empty.
headed; the last as a matter of course. since
she relics on her face rather than on her
brains have known, personally. only
one beautiful woman who was not spoileG
by her own charms and she had the rare
grace of unconsciousness. She honestly
thought herself plain looking.
Then, too, by one of the laws of com.
pensatIon, beautiful people win no more
real rea true love than homely people win
Think over the persons you care the most
for, and you will be surprised to find how
| little your liking depends upon their looks
or rather how fair their faces have come
to seem, because of the good hearts which
| have expression there. We ALWAYS sec
our loved ones through loves speetacles
AS lar back as l can remember, that old
saying was dinned IN my ears, Handsome
Is that handsome does,' and | used to won
der what it meant; now, thinking of many
| lovely lives which have iIlumined very
plain features, | know.
1t Is a common experience for persons
gong into strange places to think How
homely all the people are but kindly
fellowship nearly always changes the opin
ion.
Would you like to know, nv dear
| where is the best description of a trul,
noble woman | have ever read ?-the on,
L would most like to have you resemble p
May frightened up with new interest
and her eyes said "yes," though she die
not interrupt with a word and | con
| tinued-
You will find it in the thirty-frs
chapter of Proverbs. and YOU will see ther,
IS not one word said about beauty excep
that 1t Is vain; yet [ am very sure sucl
woman would have beauty of the sou
lasting beyond the bloom of youth. al
down through the years and into the grea
hereafter"
| lhere was moments silence; when m,
niece drew long breath II could no
make out if it was relief at the end of my
sermon, or some deeper feeling) and said
Well, Aunty, you have your wish. Yo,
are not beautiful woman, but you are :
very fine looking woman"
looked half Indignantly into the mp
turned face. Could it be May was maxim.
fun of me? But no; family discernibl.
perched upon her nose THAT nose whicI
would turn up a little, and on whose til
rested tiny freckle, which last had oc
casion to know was Mays private "thorr
IN the fiesh") were a pair of the yer,
Loves spectacles" l had been talking
about and through them [ stood trans
figured in her eyes.-H. 4. H., in Gram
| l1nr ScLnnIn y